McGeeney feels there's 'much more' in Armagh

McGeeney was happy with his side's character to come through in extra time [Getty Images]

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney feels there is "much more" in his team but "I'm all for playing badly and winning" after their one-point extra-time victory over Tyrone.

Heavy favourites going into Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh looked set to kick on when leading midway through the opening half.

However, Tyrone stayed in it and grew into the match, taking the lead in the second period before Armagh rallied with Oisin O'Neill taking the game by the scruff of the net, yet a late goal from Ben McDonnell forced extra-time.

Despite playing the additional period with 14 men following Darragh McMullen's second yellow card, Armagh managed to find a way to edge home by 1-17 to 1-16 to face Fermanagh in 13 days' time.

"For the fellas to be able to dig deep and Gareth Murphy winning that type of ball at the end there…I wouldn't say it's your life but when the whole game rests on it, it shows a lot of character," McGeeney said afterwards.

"I believe there's much more in them. We didn't use our pace today, the game was slowed down and we let that happen. A win is a win. I'd rather win them than lose them."

• Armagh edge out Tyrone after extra-time thriller

McGeeney was not playing into the pre-match narrative that Tyrone's chances were slim following an underwhelming Division Two campaign.

"I've been watching football for almost 40 years now and I've yet to see Tyrone put out a bad team," he stressed.

"A bit like Kerry [All-Ireland quarter-final defeat] last year, you always have to be careful who's writing the stories. Not that I'm holding anything against you boys (media), heaven forbid."

If it wasn't a classic game of the highest quality, it certainly made up for it with gripping drama to the last as Armagh found a way.

Early on, his side looked set to take a firm grip, but Tyrone asked them questions they could ultimately answer.

"I thought we were in control a lot of the time and we gave the ball away," McGeeney reflected.

"Even for the [Tyrone] goal, we gave the ball away three times along the sideline there. It was just silly things.

"In fairness to the fellas, it couldn't be easy down a man in the modern game, it's very difficult to play against. To do that for the last 10 minutes of the game and the whole of extra time and to come out winners, it says a lot for them."